Valve has officially announced the pricing and details of the Steam Frame, its next-gen wireless VR headset succeeding the Valve Index.
It is positioned as both a standalone mobile VR gaming device and a dedicated wireless PC VR streaming machine, the headset introduces inside-out tracking and SteamOS integration.
Alongside the hardware unveiling, Valve opened a randomized reservation lottery on Steam to curb scalpers ahead of first shipments.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Dual 2160p Displays, and 144Hz Refresh Rates
At the heart of the Steam Frame is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset paired with 16GB of unified LPDDR5X memory. Yes, that’s the same Qualcomm processor that you can find on smartphones.
Visuals are driven by dual 2160 x 2160 LCD panels per eye, supporting dynamic refresh rates from 72Hz up to 144Hz. And these are not pancake lenses.
For PC VR enthusiasts, Valve bundles a dedicated 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E point-to-point wireless adapter, enabling low-latency PC streaming with eye-tracked Foveated Streaming.
Valve has also confirmed that a native standalone version of Half-Life: Alyx is currently in active development for the headset.
Dual Gamepad Motion Controllers and Full Linux Desktop Experience
The included Steam Frame motion controllers feature complete input parity with traditional gamepads, packing dual thumbsticks, D-pads, face buttons, and triggers.
The controllers run on standard AA batteries, offering up to 40 hours of continuous gameplay per battery pair.
Running on SteamOS, the headset provides full access to Steam Big Picture mode and a switchable KDE Linux desktop environment for productivity.
Pricing, Availability, and Randomized Reservation Lottery
In the United States, the Steam Frame starts at $1,059 USD for the 256GB edition, while the 1TB edition is priced at $1,299 USD. In Canada, the headset is priced at $1,529 CAD for the 256GB model and $1,859 CAD for the 1TB model.
Customers can register their purchase interest on Steam through September 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. PT, with purchase invitation emails rolling out on September 18.
Optional accessories include an Ergonomic Accessories Kit for $59 USD / $89 CAD, an Accessory Replacement Kit for $49 USD / $69 CAD, and a 45W USB-C Power Adapter for $29 USD / $49 CAD.
Valve Steam Frame Technical Specifications Summary
| Specification / Component | Valve Steam Frame Details |
|---|---|
| Processor & Memory | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 16GB LPDDR5X unified RAM |
| Storage Options | 256GB and 1TB internal storage (microSD expandable) |
| Display & Optics | Dual 2160 x 2160 LCD panels (per eye), 72Hz to 144Hz refresh rate |
| Tracking & Optics Tech | Inside-out camera tracking, eye tracking with Foveated Streaming |
| Wireless PC Streaming | Dedicated 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E/7 USB wireless PC adapter included |
| Operating System | SteamOS (Big Picture VR UI + full KDE Linux desktop) |
| Controllers & Battery | 6-DOF motion controllers with gamepad inputs; up to 40 hours (AA battery) |
| Retail Pricing (USD / CAD) | 256GB: $1,059 USD / $1,529 CAD 1TB: $1,299 USD / $1,859 CAD |
| Reservation Sign-Up | September 14–17, 2026 (lottery invitations begin Sept 18) |
